The Secrets of Paradise Bay by Devon Vaughn Archer Read Free Book Online

before she disappeared behind vertical blinds.
    It happened so quickly, Clyde doubted Trey was aware of the moment. Probably better that way. No need to stir up any trouble by suggesting there was something going on with him and his brother’s wife. Not after all Trey had done for him while asking for little in return. He’d ignore the Ivana vibes, hard as it may have been. Even so, Clyde couldn’t help but wonder when it would come time to pay the piper. And if he would be able to step up to the plate.
    He got in the car and took a few seconds to familiarize himself before starting it and heading out into the real world again, not quite sure what lay around every corner. Or whom.
    Willie Munroe entered his head. Clyde wondered what the man was up to these days. Was he even still in town? Clyde regretted that things between them had ended violently after what had once been a good friendship, if not an unhealthy one. But Willie had brought this upon himself by stepping over the line. Had he changed his bad ways—or was he same old Willie?
    Somehow Clyde doubted the man had become a model citizen. Willie was the type of person who never seemed to know when enough was enough. Not while he was still able to walk on his own two feet. If he were smart, Clyde would steer as far away from Willie as possible. This one was a no-brainer. He was happy being out of prison and into a slick BMW. No reason he could think of to make things tough for himself on the road ahead.

Chapter Six
    â€œDon’t you think you’re overdoing it just a bit?” With a drink in hand, Ivana confronted her husband the moment he entered the house.
    Trey gave her a dumbfounded look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    â€œLike hell, you don’t. You’ve already given your brother the key to our home. And now you’re giving him a damned car ?”
    â€œIt’s not like we don’t have enough of them. Loaning Clyde one to get around in hardly seems like overdoing it.” Trey headed toward the stairs with Ivana matching him step for step. “And I don’t recall giving him a key to the house—yet.”
    Ivana fumed, though not quite sure why. She hadn’t expected any less of Trey than to lay out the red carpet to try and impress his ex-con brother. Or win him over through expensive toys. Whatever. Didn’t mean she would roll over and pretend to go along with every move he made like a China doll. Even if that was what he obviously wanted.
    â€œYou can’t buy his love, no matter how much you throw at him,” she said brusquely.
    Trey rounded on her as they reached the second floor. “Is that what you really think: that this is about— buying love?”
    â€œYou tell me,” Ivana shot back, while sipping her martini.
    â€œAll I’m trying to do is help Clyde while he tries to sort out his life. If that’s simply too much for you to understand, then I’m sorry.”
    Ivana followed Trey to his bedroom, stepping into the room he’d claimed as his own for the first time in months. Ever since deciding she no longer wanted to share a bed with him, Ivana had welcomed Trey being on the opposite end of the hall. Only once had they made love in that room, which he’d hired a decorator to turn into his mini-palace. She succumbed to his advances while inebriated, hoping it would be enough to keep him at bay. It had worked for a while, but now he was showing signs of wanting more from her sexually. At this moment, that was something she definitely was not interested in. Not with him, anyway.
    â€œYou’re not sorry one bit,” she voiced sharply. “The reality is that you make the rules and just expect me to abide by them, such as inviting your brother into our home whether I gave a damn or not.”
    Trey sniffed. “You’ve been drinking.”
    Ivana saw no reason to deny it. “So I had a drink. I’m